Ergonomic walking aid

ABSTRACT

An ergonomic cane uses the user&#39;s hand as the socket portion of a ball and socket hinge. In use the hand and wrist remain stationary as the ball shaped handle rotates within the hand to eliminate stress on body parts. A narrow stem connects the ball shaped handle to the cane-leg to allow fingers to straddle comfortably. The ball shaped handle may be shock mounted to soften impact with the ground. The cane has a length adjustment feature.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to ergonomic and therapeutic walking canes.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Physical therapists know that the use of walking canes can cause injury. Arthritis and carpal tunnel syndrome are common afflictions caused by the cyclic flexing of hand, wrist, and shoulder joints. Hunched posture is a familiar style of cane use that causes back, shoulder and neck pain. The continuous impact of cane to ground can also aggravate injury.

FIG. 1 depicts a conventional cane 8 at the start position of a walking step with hand-wrist 2 grasping handle 1 at 90° angle to arm 4. FIG. 2 depicts the conventional cane at the end position of a walking step with hand-wrist 2 flexing to accommodate the rotation of handle 1 (refer to arrows). It is the repetitious flexing of the hand wrist 2 that aggravates carpel tunnel syndrome and tendonitis. This method of use allows normal posture but requires extreme flexing of the hand-wrist 2 to accommodate the cyclic rotation of handle 1.

Referring to FIG. 3, a familiar style for using a conventional cane is shown with the user hunched forward with arm 4 reaching out to place the cane foot 3 at the start position of a walking step. FIG. 4 depicts the conventional cane at the end position of a walking step with arm 4 swung back to accommodate forward progress. This method of use requires movements of shoulder, elbow, and arm. The hunched posture combined with arm and shoulder motion may cause fatigue and injury to joints of the elbow, shoulder, back and neck.

Each style of use and variations thereof requires thousands of flexing cycles per mile walked. It is this cyclic flexing of body joints that causes injury.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present invention allows a user to maintain correct posture and move through every step with significantly reduced flexing of hand-wrist joints. A ball shaped handle and the user's hand form a ball and socket hinge. In use the hand and wrist remain stationary as the ball shaped handle rotates within the user's hand to eliminate stress on body parts. A narrow stem connects the ball shaped handle to the cane-leg to allow fingers to comfortably slide around and past. The ball shaped handle may be shock mounted to the cane-leg to soften ground impact. The ball shaped handle may be free rotating relative to the cane-leg to enhance traction between the cane's foot and the ground.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of the disclosure, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the disclosure, there are shown in the drawings embodiments which are presently preferred. It should be understood, however, that the disclosure is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a traditional cane with the cane-leg at the start position of a walking step and with a user grasping the handle.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of a traditional cane with the cane-leg at the end position of a walking step and with a user grasping the handle.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of a traditional cane with the cane-leg at the start position of a walking step and with a hunched over user grasping the handle.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of a traditional cane with the cane-leg at the end position of a walking step and with a hunched over user grasping the handle.

FIG. 5 is a side elevation of embodiments of the invention with cane-leg at the start position of a walking step and with a user grasping a ball shaped handle.

FIG. 6 is a side elevation of embodiments of the invention with cane-leg at the end position of a walking step and with a user grasping a ball shaped handle.

FIG. 7 is a side elevation of the upper portion of embodiments of the invention with a hand grasping a ball shaped handle.

FIG. 8 is a rear elevation of the upper portion of embodiments of the invention with a hand grasping a ball shaped handle.

FIG. 9 is a rear elevation of the upper portion of embodiments of the invention with a hand grasping an egg-shaped handle.

FIG. 10 is a cross section of the upper portion of embodiments of a basic version of the invention assembly.

FIG. 11 is a cross section of the upper portion of embodiments of the invention including the components of an integral shock absorber system.

FIG. 12 is a cross section of the upper portion of embodiments of the invention including the components of an integral shock absorber system shown partially compressed.

FIG. 13 is front elevation of the embodiments of the invention with a series of length adjustment holes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

Certain terminology is used in the following description for convenience only and is not limiting. The words “lower,” “bottom,” “upper,” and “top” designate directions in the drawings to which reference is made. The words “inwardly,” “outwardly,” “upwardly” and “downwardly” refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the device, and designated parts thereof, in accordance with the present disclosure. Unless specifically set forth herein, the terms “a,” “an” and “the” are not limited to one element, but instead should be read as meaning “at least one.” The terminology includes the words noted above, derivatives thereof and words of similar import.

Referring to FIGS. 5 & 6, the purpose of the present invention is to totally eliminate flexing of body joints. A cane of embodiments of the invention comprises an elongated main body 12 (which may also be termed a cane leg) with a spherical or ball-shaped handle 10 at its upper end and a foot 17 at its lower end. The technique for using the present invention involves lifting up on ball handle 10 to disengage cane-foot 17 from the ground to allow gravity to swing the cane leg 12 forward to begin the next step. FIG. 5 shows the present invention at the start position of a walking step with the hand-wrist 14 grasping the ball handle 10. FIG. 6 depicts the end position of a walking step with hand-wrist 14 grasping the ball handle 10 with hand-wrist 14 and arm 13 aligned identically as shown in FIG. 5. The present invention permits a user to maintain correct posture and move through every step with significantly reduced flexing of hand-wrist joints.

A loose grip on the ball handle 10 lets the cane hinge freely. That is, the ball handle 10 is able to rotate in the user's loose grip which enables the cane to pivot between positions without the wrist and arm movements required when using a conventional cane. When needed, a tight grip prevents such movement of the ball handle in the user's grip and thereby allows a user to deliberately point and place the cane's foot 17 where she wants for leaning or poking around.

Referring to FIGS. 7, 8 & 9, embodiments of the present invention comprise a walking cane with a ball handle 10. The ball handle 10 is sized to be comfortably grasped by the hand while rotating freely within. For example, the ball handle may have a diameter of about 2.0 to about 2.5 inches. In one exemplary embodiment, the diameter of the ball handle is 2.25 inches. Basically, the user's hand 14 forms the socket portion of a ball and socket hinge. The ball handle 10 has a polished surface to enhance smooth operation of the ball and socket hinge. For general reference, the ball handle 10 approximates the size and polish of a billiard ball. It should be noted that the ball shaped handle 10 functions superbly however alternative shapes may serve as well. For example, FIG. 9 shows an egg-shaped handle 16. In any case the handle should be symmetrical about the cane's longitudinal axis to provide smooth rotation within the hand's grasp. To be concise in this disclosure the handle shape of choice is a spherical ball and referred to as the ball handle 10.

Referring to FIGS. 7, 8 & 9, a narrow stem 15 spaces the ball handle 10 apart from the adapter bushing 4 at a distance to clear fingers 5 & 6. The narrow stem 15 is dimensionally narrow so fingers 5 & 6 can easily slide around and past, as seen in FIGS. 8 & 9. In one exemplary embodiment, the stem has a diameter of about 0.25 inches and the space between the top of the adapter bushing and the bottom of the ball handle is about 1.75 inches. Notably, the stem has a smaller diameter than the cane-leg.

Referring to FIG. 10, shows the basic version of the present invention. A narrow stem 15 connects ball handle 10 to adapter bushing 4. The narrow stem 15 connects ball handle 10 to adapter bushing 4 and the stem is retained at each end by interference force fit or other suitable means. Adapter bushing 4 is force fit into the open end of cane leg 8 to complete the assembly.

Referring to FIGS. 11 & 12, with this version of the present invention the ball handle 10 is supported by an integral shock absorber system housed in cane-leg 12. A roll pin 22 extends through holes in the walls of cane-leg 12. A spacer 21 slips through the cane-leg tube to rest on the roll pin 22. A resilient spring 20 rests on spacer 21. A thrust washer 28 is placed on top of resilient spring 20. A subassembly comprised of a resilient washer 23 and adapter bushing 19 slide onto headed stem 18. The ball handle 10 is force fit on the end of headed stem 18. Finally, the adapter bushing 19 is force fit into the opened end of cane leg tube 12 to stop on a shoulder 30. Once fully assembled the adapter bushing 19 applies a slight preload against the stack of components in cane-leg 12 to maintain a firm assembly. The headed stem 17 spaces ball handle 10 away from adapter bushing 19 to accommodate the full stroke of the shock absorber along with fingers 5 & 6. The resilient spring 20 is made of a low durometer synthetic rubber which yields at a linear spring rate when force is applied on ball handle 10. As the resilient spring 20 swells against the walls of cane-leg 12 the spring rate rises quickly to end with soft final stop. A resilient washer 23 dampens noise on the return stroke. The axial alignment between the force applied on ball handle 10 and the moving parts results in a mechanically smooth and silent system that effectively absorbs shock from ground impact. The shock absorber system also enhances traction between foot 17 and the ground by absorbing load spikes on foot 17. The foot of a conventional cane tends to wiggle out and lose traction as a user leans and twists on the cane for support. To abate this problem the ball handle 10 rotates freely on thrust bearing 28 to maintain static friction between foot 17 and the ground.

Referring to FIG. 13, a means for adjusting the overall length between the ball handle 10 and the foot 17 is important to match the height and comfort of individual users. A common adjustment system used on tubular canes is implemented with an upper tube 25 telescoping over a lower tube 26. A series of adjustment holes 29 in the upper tube 25 permits the length to be locked in place by means of a spring-loaded pin 27 which extends through a hole in the wall of the lower tube 26 and out through the adjustment hole of choice 27 in the upper tube 25.

What has been described is a novel ergonomic walking aid. It is recognized that numerous changes to the described embodiment of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from its true spirit and scope. The invention is to be limited only as defined in the claims.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all means or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended to include any structure, material, or act for performing the function in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. 

1. A walking cane comprising: a ball shaped handle member; a cane-leg member with a foot attached to a lower end of the cane-leg; and a stem member narrower than said cane-leg member connecting said ball shaped handle member to said cane-leg member, the stem member being immediately adjacent the ball shaped handle member and thereby adapted to provide a space between said ball shaped handle member and said cane-leg member to allow a user's fingers to pass freely; wherein said ball shaped handle member is adapted to form a ball and socket hinge in the grasp of a user's hand.
 2. The cane of claim 1 wherein said stem member is resiliently mounted to said cane-leg member to permit axial movement of the ball shaped handle member relative to the cane-leg member.
 3. The cane of claim 1 wherein the ball shaped handle member is egg shaped.
 4. The cane of claim 1 wherein said ball shaped handle member is freely rotatable in relation to said cane-leg member.
 5. A walking cane comprising: a ball shaped handle member; a tubular cane-leg member with a foot attached; and a stem member having a first end and a second end; wherein the first end of said stem member is held fixed in said ball shaped handle member and the second end of said stem member is resiliently supported for axial movement within the tubular cane-leg member; and wherein the stem member is narrower than the cane-leg member and immediately adjacent the ball shaped handle member such that the stem member is adapted to provide a space between said ball shaped handle member and said cane-leg member to allow a user's fingers to pass freely.
 6. The cane of claim 5 wherein said ball shaped handle member is freely rotatable in relation to said tubular cane-leg member. 7-9. (canceled) 